The Newells – Mississippi natives who made their professional lives in Houston – were commissioned as field personnel by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in 2003.

They spent the next several years working on language and cultural acquisition in Albania and Greece before opening PORTA in 2007.

Albania, which shares a mountainous border with Greece, was isolated for decades under communism. In the early 1990s, however, the country opened up and Albanians could leave. Many were desperate and did just that.

Roughly half a million Albanian immigrants now live in Athens. Janice describes them as "economic refugees."

Albanians can find art shows, technology training, language classes and more at PORTA.

Janice says one of her English classes has 30-year-olds as well as 60-year-olds in it. Some students were professionals in Albania, but the move to Athens meant a loss of status and opportunity.

"I have the difficult job of turning Albanians down for our classes," says Bob. "Our classes are always full to the brim and beyond. We always have to turn students down. It's a difficult thing, but we simply do not have enough time, enough money and enough space to meet the needs."

The Newells also run Bible studies. They estimate that only 1,000 of the 500,000 Albanians in Athens are Christians.

Janice says their own experience as Americans in Greece helps them identify with Albanians in Greece.

"When we have difficulty getting papers and they have difficulty getting papers, they think we understand," says Janice. "And we do understand. They are an inspirational group of people."

Bob says people can do three things to support their work: pray, visit PORTA to share skills, and give financially to PORTA, which does not charge Albanians for the services it provides.

"What we do, we do to honor Jesus," says Bob.

"PORTA Today" contributions (to help underwrite current programming) may be sent to:

CBF Project #89881P.O. Box 101699Atlanta, GA 30392

"PORTA Tomorrow" contributions (to help fund PORTA after the Newells' planned retirement in 2014) may be sent to: